Automatic return-signalling device for telephones.



No. 643,864. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

F. BURGER. AUTOMATIC RETURN SIGNALING DEVICE FOR TELEPI-IOIIES.

(Application filed May 3, 1899.) (No Model.)

3. Sheets-Sheet I.

witwwae'o' mawzzk,

THE ucims PETERS co, murauwo WASHINGTON, u. c.

No. 643,864. Patented Feb. 20, I900.

F, BURGER. AUTOMATIC RETURN SIGNALING-DEVICEFOR TELEPHUNES.

(Application filed May 3, 18 99.) (No llodel.)

3 Sheets8heet 2.

m: NORM PEYERS w. wo rcv-u-mo.v WASHINGYON, b.

No. 643,864. Patented Fb. 20, I900. F. BURGER.

AUTOMATIC RETURN SIGNALING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES.

(Application filed May 3, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 ShoetsSheet 3 51 Q A r i- W 1, v X I J'vw J 7% R wvezwtcu Witnesses W aflozuup m: NORRIS Prrsls (20.. PumoLn-No" WASHINGTION n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ BURGER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTIIS TO HENRY M. WILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC RETURN-SIGNALING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,864, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed May 3, 1899. Serial No. 715,443- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, FRANZ BURGER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Return-Signaling Devices for Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic returnsignaling devices for telephones, and has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and efe fective means which is adapted to be connected with an ordinary telephone apparatus and to be automatically operated in connection I 5 therewith to produce a signal at the distantor called-subscribers. station, which may be transmitted to the calling station, and thereby indicate to' the operator that the electric connections and line are in working order,

and which shall operate independently of the action of the called subscriber or operator; and to these ends my invention consists in the various features of construction and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an ordinary signal-box, partially in section,

and a transmitting-telephone, showing the invention attached and applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal vertical section above the bells, showing the general arrangement of the devices. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the power-storing devices, as welLas the automatic circuit-controlling devices. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the circuit connections automatically controlled by the power-storing devices. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the power-storing devices, showing the parts in somewhat different positions; and Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating one arrangement of circuits, including the ordinary su'bscribers-station outfit, with my invention applied thereto.

One of the main objects of the invention, as above indicated, generally is to provide a simple attachment to the ordinary telephone-subscribers outfit which shall be automatically 5o operated, as by the mere act of calling the subscriber, and which shall mechanically proscribers 'line.

duce air-vibrations which shall affect the subscribers transmitter in such a way as to produce audible signals at the calling station, and thereby indicate to the calling subscriber 5 5 that the line is in operation and if the call is not answered that it is not through the fault of the construction or condition of the sub- It has heretofore been proposed to provide some such sort of a returnsignaling device, and, while it is unnecessary to recite the details of the construction and arrangement of such devices, it may be said that my device is simple and cheap in construction and is adapted to be applied to the ordinary subscribers-station outfit and that it will not interfere in any way with the usual operations thereof and that it is effective and accomplishes the results desired satisfactorily. V

In the accompanying drawings I have indicated a portion of the ordinary subscribers outfit in which there is shown an ordinary magneto call and bell box and an ordinary transmitter shown in the form of a microphone M. In the call-box, B represents an ordinary magneto bell-magnet having a hammer 1), adapted to operate the bells B in the usual way to give the signal. usually provided with a magneto-generator, (indicated in the present instanceby the crank 0,) it being unnecessary to show the details of construction of the same. It is also provided with the usual automatic switch D for supporting the receiver and controlling the circuits through the bells or through the telephone instruments in the usual way.

In the present instanceI have shown means for storing power, which means are operated automatically by the ordinary calling-signal, which in turn is operated from the distant station, and, as shown, the armature 1, to which the bell-hammer b is attached, is proadded with an extension 2, carrying a hammer 3, so that as the calling-signal is operated 5 not only are the bells B rung, but the hammer 3 is caused to vibrate in unison therewith. Arranged within striking distance of the hammer 3 is a sliding rod 4, supported in any suitable way, as by the hanger 5, in which [00 it slides, and at one end it may be provided with a suitable stop 6, controlling a spring 7,

The box is also which tends to maintain the sliding rod within striking distance of the hammer 3. The arrangement is such that when the hammer 3 is vibrated the rod 4 receives a series of blows, imparting impulses to it and moving it in one direction, while it is returned to its normal position by the spring 7, or if the blows are repeated with sufficient rapidity the sliding rod will be struck successively before it returns to its full normal position. I utilize this sliding rod orits equivalent to store power in any suitable way, and in the present instance I have shown a ratchet-wheel 11 and a pawl 9 pivotally mounted at 8 upon the sliding rod 4 and having an extension 10 to maintain it in position, and this pawl is arranged to engage the ratchet-wheel and rotate it in accordance with the successive impulses given to the sliding rod 4. Cooperating with the pawl 9 I have shown a dog 17, also engaging the ratchet-wheel 11 and preventing its return under the force of the stored power while it is being stored, and in order to permit the stored power to operate at the desired time I provide some suitable means for disconnecting the dog 17 from the ratchet, and I have shown in the present instance ears or extensions 19 connected to the end of the dog and preferably having a friction-roller 20 and engaging the end of the sliding rod 4:, which is shown as provided with an incline 1S. \Vith this construction it is evident that while the roller 20 is on or adjacent to the main portion of the sliding rod 4 the dog can engage the ratchet-teeth, as shownin Fig. 5; but when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 the inclined portion 18 of the sliding rod 4 will lift the dog out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth.

In the ordinary operation of the sliding rod when it is receivingaseries of impulses from the hammer the dog 17 will normally engage the ratchetwheel; but when the hammer ceases its blows on the sliding rod under the influence of the spring 7 it is returned to its normal position, and the inclined portion 18 will raise the dog 17 out of engagement, as Well as the pawl 9, and thus permit the stored power to operate the mechanism, as hereinafter set forth.

In the present instance the ratchet-wheel 11 is shown as mounted on the shaft 12, supported in brackets or journals 13 14, and connected to this shaft is the device for storing power, shown in the present instance as a coiled spring .15, one end of which is connected to the shaft 12, while the other end is mounted on or connected to some fixed portion, as the pin 16 on the journal 14:. It will thus be seen that as the ratchet-wheel is rotated in one direction the spring will be wound up, storing power, and this power is used in operating the means for producing air-vibrations, which in turn operate the transmitter and automatically send return-signals to the calling-operators instrument.

lVhile various means for automatically producing air-vibrations may be used, I have shown a hollow cylinder or drum 28, provided with a diaphragm 29, of membrane or other suitable material, and the drum is provided with a perforation 30, which, by a suitable channel or tube 31, leads to the transmitter M in front of the diaphragm, so that the airvibrations produced thereby will automatically operate the transmitter in a well-known manner. In order to mechanically produce these air-vibrations, in the present instance I have shown as mounted on the shaft 12 a ratchet-wheel 32, and in connection therewith is a pawl 34, attached to an escape or crown wheel 33, loosely mounted on the shaft 12 and so arranged that as the shaft rotates in onedirection the crown-wheel will be operated through the medium of the ratchet and pawl; but when the shaft is rotated in the other direction the ratchet-wheel moves by the pawl without rotating the crown-wheel. Arranged to operate in connection with the crown-wheel is a rod 35, provided with a pin or detent 36, cooperating with the teeth of the crown-wheel and carrying on its free end a hammer 37, and it will readily be seen that as the crown-wheel rotates the spring-rod 35 will be vibrated and the hammer 37 will strike the diaphragm 29, producing the requisite airvibrations to operate the transmitter, as before set forth.

As is well known, in the ordinary arrangement of the subscribers outfit the microphone or transmitter is not connected in the line-circuit as long as the receiver hangs upon its switch-lever D, and in order to provide for such an arrangement (which is the preferred arrangement) I arrange the circuits at the subscribers station so that they are automatically controlled by the power-storing and air-vibration-producing devices. circuit as provided with terminals 26 27, adapted to be automatically opened and closed, as above indicated, and while various means may be used for this purpose I have shown a weighted lever 22, having a tailpiece 23, arranged in such relation with the ratchetwheel 11 as to be operated thereby, and in this instance the ratchet-wheel is provided with stops or pins 21 25, which may be adjusted in any desired relation and adapted to impinge upon the tailpiece 23 to operate the weighted lever. Thus in the normal position of the parts indicated in Fig. 3 the weighted lever 22 rests on the stop 24, as shown in full lines, and the pin 21 bears against the tailpiece 23. When, however, the ratchet-wheel is rotated to store the power, the pin 25 impinges on the tailpiece 23 and throws the weighted lever into the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, closing the terminals 26 27 of the line-circuit.

By this time the proper amount of power has been stored, and when the ratchet-wheel is moved by the shaft carrying the automatic mechanical means for producing air-vibra- Thus I have shown the main-line tions the circuit remains closed until the pin 21 impinges on the tailpiece 23, when the weighted lever is swung to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 3, breaking the circuit; but meanwhile the main-line circuit has been closed, so that the air-vibrations produced as above set forth and operating on the transmitter can produce electric undulations or impulses over the line to affect the operators instrument and produce the signal thereon.

InFig. 6 I have illustrated, diagrammatically, one arrangement of circuits at the distant or subscribers station, in which F F represent the main-line terminals, over which a signal is sent in the usual way from the operating-office, and may be assumed to have passed over the conductor or terminal F to the bell-magnet B and around the usual short circuit of the magneto-generator through the lever D to the contact E and lineF back to the calling-station. This, as usual, operates the signal-bell, and in this arrangement also vibrates the hammer 3 to store the power, as above set forth, and also to move the weighted lever 22 to close the contacts 26 27 in a branch of the main line. hen the proper amount of power is stored and the circuit thus closed, the automatic air-vibration-producin g device is operated, which in turn operates the transmitter or microphone M, as above set forth, and finally breaks the circuit at the terminals 26 27 by restoring the weighted lever 22 to its normal position; but meanwhile while this is being done the circuit may be traced through the conductor or terminal F, the branch K, contact 26, weighted lever 22, contact 27 conductor L, through the microphone M, the induction-coil N, conductor containing the receiver, and conductor F to the operating-station. It will thus be seen that my device comprises, broadly stated, means for storing power at the subscribers or distant station, which means are operated by the usual signaling devices, and that this stored power mechanically operates to automatically produce air-vibrations, which in turn automatically operate the ordinary microphone or transmitter and send undulations or impulses over the line to the operating-station, and that while this is being done the main circuit is automatically controlled by the power-storin g and air-vibration-producin g devices both to close the circuit to send the return-signal and to restore the circuit to its normal condition.

While I have thus described specifically and shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred construction, it will be understood that the details may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, confine my invention to the construction shown.

IVhat I claim i-s 1. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with means for producing a signal at the distant or subscribers station, of means for storing power air vibrationproducing devices, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with a signal device at the distant or subscribers station, of a hammer connected with and operated by said signal device, a power-storing device operated by such signal device, devices between the power-storing device and the hammer operated by the latter for storing the power, mechanical means for automatically producing air-vibrations operated by said stored power, a transmitter, and connections for operating the transmitter by said automaticallyproduced air vibrations, substantially as described.

et. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with a signal device at the distant or subscribers station, of a hammer connected to and operated by said signal device, a power-storing device operated by such signal device, a ratchet-wheel connected to operate said power-storing de-.

vice, a pawl engaging said ratchet, connections carrying the pawl arranged within striking distance of said hammer, mechanical means for automatically producing air-vibrations by said stored power, a transmitter, and connections for operating the transmitter by said automatically-produced air-vibrations, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with a signal device at the distant or subscribers station, of a hammer connected to be operated by said signal device, a rod arranged within striking distance of said hammer, a pawl carried by said rod, a ratchet wheel operated by the pawl, a power-storing device operated by the ratchet, and a dog controlling the ratchet, the said dog being controlled by said rod, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with a signal device at the distant or subscribers station, of a hammer connected with and operated by said signal device, arod arranged within striking distance of said hammer, a ratchet op erated by said rod, a power-storing device operated by said ratchet, circuit connections, and means for opening and closing said circuit connections controlled by said ratchet, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with a signal device at the distant or subscribers station, of means for storing power operated by said signal device, a ratchet-Wheel for operating said means, a pawl operated by the signal device for operating the ratchet, circuit connections, a Weighted lever controlling said circuit connections, and pins on the ratchet for controlling the pend ulu m, substantially as described.

S. In an automatic return-signaling device for telephones, the combination with a signal device at the distant or subscribcrs station, of means for storing power operated by said signal device, an air-vibration-producing device comprising a drum and hammer, means operated by the stored power for operating FRANZ BURGER.

\Vitnesses:

Gno. K. Tonnnxcn, J. B RGER. 

